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1Amusingly, the show is absolutely ''crammed'' with shout-outs to other series/franchises.
2* The producer of the series, Akio Mishima, has come out on record as saying that much of the series was inspired by Nanoha's "''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''-ish" concept art, particularly the staff and the colours of her uniform (''Nanoha'' tribute fanbook, in Megami Magazine #91).
3** And the shout out was returned in ''Anime/GundamBuildFighters'', where way the Star Build Strike's Discharge System works suspiciously resembles the Starlight Breaker.
4** A more on-the-nose return of the shout out came courtesy of the infamous Second Season trailer for [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]], where one of the subtitles suggested for that season was "A's".
5** And in the first Gundam TV anime with a female protagonist, Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury, the main antagonist was practically an Expy of [[spoiler: Precia Testarossa, what with cloning her dead daughter and sending the clone out to fight in an effort to bring her back to life]].
6* He's also apparently a fan of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars''.
7** The [[strike:worst]] best offender has got to be the [[{{Expy}} abundant similarities]] between Signum and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance Lamia Loveless]] - on top of the similarities in background, personality, and even attacks, they also have [[Creator/KaoriShimizu the same voice]].
8** Ever since her debut, Vita, in addition of her own ShoutOut to Anime/GaoGaiGar, also carries on aspects of [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2 Alt Eisen Riese]], starting from being able to launch multiple steel balls like the Avalanche Claymore, or using her device in a similar manner to the Revolving Stake/Bunker.
9** Nanoha herself resembles the [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2 Weissritter]], and her EmpathicWeapon has an "Excellion Mode".
10** Fate also gets a major shout-out in the form of her Intelligent Device's sword form - a black sword with a trident-shaped hilt. That extends for MILES.
11** In ''[=StrikerS=]'', Signum is often accompanied by a red-headed nun with [[BlowYouAway wind-based magic]] and a similar fighting style to Axel Almer. Lamia and Axel both debuted in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAdvance'', where they were rivals. It gets more hilarious that when Axel gets into the spinoff game ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'', he fights on foot... with that red-headed nun's weapon - a bladed tonfa, and the ability to create tornadoes.
12** In ''Force'', to add up more Signum-Lamia comparison. [[spoiler:Signum gets curb-stomped and nearly killed off by newcomer Cypha of Hückebein through cheating]]. Comparisons could be drawn between Cypha and [[BigBadWannabe Wilhelm von Juergen]], the "newcomer" in ''SRW'', who debuts by [[spoiler: capturing, humiliating the hell out of Lamia and presumably killed her off (temporarily), through accidental exploitation of Lamia not being in her mech, in other words... accidental cheating. Unfortunately, unlike Juergen who was posthumously better received when they introduced an even worse person (Kaoru Tomine), Force's hiatus might mean that Cypha will never get posthumously rescued.]]
13** While this is less of a blatant one than the previous one, maybe you should give Zest Grangeitz a look. Now imagine what happens when you give '''Sanger Zonvolt, The Sword That Smites Evil!''' brown hair... see what I mean?
14** SRW has started giving ''Nanoha'' {{Shout Out}}s back - in SRWZ, the Balgora Glory's attacks suspiciously resemble Nanoha's.
15-->'''Setsuko:''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnoxhT32pt0 "The Glory Star, FULL BURST!"]]
16** Nanoha didn't stop there. The Materials in the Portable games have also been likened with [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha the Machinery Children]]
17* Many of the attacks and techniques in the series are homages to mecha series, notably ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' and ''Anime/GaoGaiGar''. And especially Subaru, who can be considered a {{moe}} compact-sized ''Anime/GaoGaiGar''. Her TransformationSequence included the tornado and G Stone reveal from ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'''s Final Fusion. She also has Anime/GaoGaiGar's [[RocketPunch Broken Phantom]] and Protect Shade and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsCompact2 Alteisen]]'s Revolving Stake.
18* In fact, ''several'' of the characters are schoolgirl-shaped versions of various mecha. Nanoha herself is such an expy of the original [=RX-78-2=] that she appropriated its nickname "The White Devil", which is now more associated with her than with the mecha in some circles. Nanoha uses ''[[AttackDrone fin funnels]]'' during the third series due to the standard powerup curve making her resemblance to a Gundam of the later UC timeline even more pronounced.
19* Subaru's roller blades and "Wing Road" are possibly {{Shout Out}}s to ''Manga/AirGear'' or ''Anime/CombattlerV'', for that matter.
20* Meanwhile, her [[PowerFist Revolver Knuckle]] and her sister's name are references to ''Anime/GearFighterDendoh'', while the physical appearance of the sisters, particularly hairstyle and ribbons, recalls Noriko and Kazumi, the pilots of ''Anime/{{Gunbuster}}'', which happens to have spiked rollerblades built in.
21* The plot arc of the first three series is broadly similar to that of the ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' series ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'', with the blond nemesis doing a HeelFaceTurn and appearing as an ally in the second series, and a long TimeSkip between the penultimate series and the third installment, during which the protagonists grow up (''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack''). The main difference is that Fate, unlike Char, does not undergo a later FaceHeelTurn.
22* Reinforce, and her tinier, cuter incarnation, Reinforce Zwei. In ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Victory Gundam]]'', there's a battleship named Reinforce, which was later remodeled into the Reinforce ''Junior''.
23* The second episode features an {{Expy}} of Ein from ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' being possessed by a Jewel Seed.
24* Teana's weapon, Cross Mirage is named after a mech from ''Manga/TheFiveStarStories'' & its design appropriately has a slight Mamoru Nagano vibe to it.
25* Not an anime shout-out, but the ''A's'' in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'' is a phonetic sound-alike of "Ace," and that season also features the first appearance of "Belkan Knights," who utilize a triangle array in their magic. In ''VideoGame/AceCombat'', the Belkan Air Force uses a triangle as its emblem and is rooted in the traditions of the ancient orders of Belkan knights.
26** The villains of ''Force'' are the ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars Hückebein]]'' family. Both ''VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar'' and ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'' have an NPC who's nicknamed "Hückebein".
27* Fate's Bardiche has a whole heck of a lot of ShoutOut metamorphoses.
28** The scythe form being called [[VideoGame/WildArms Ha(r)ken]] comes to mind.
29** The Zanber Form bears a distinct resemblance to a [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars Zankantou]].
30** The Riot Zanber Stinger form bears a striking resemblance to the weapon used by Shelke in ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus''.
31*** Fate herself often called "[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Deatchscythe-chan]]" by fans.
32* Thoma makes a "contract" with a mysterious girl being held captive. His left eye starts bleeding, then he transforms into a being called "The Black Knight" and casts a spell called "Divide Zero". ''Anime/CodeGeass'' anyone?
33* ''[=ViVid=]'' character Einhart has the family name of Stratos. Part VehicularThemeNaming, part ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]]'' reference. She also has an attack called "[[Anime/{{Dancougar}} Dankuuken]]".
34* Jail Scaglietti looks like [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWars Ingram Plisken]]. A technical genius who brainwashed two heroines into fighting for him, created an OppositeSexClone of himself as an assistant, was later cloned further, and eventually betrayed his masters.
35* Lutecia's summon, Garyu, is an insect like humanoid monster with a similar design to a ''Franchise/KamenRider''. To add to this, its arm can form a blade similar to the one [[Series/KamenRiderAgito Gils]] can form, has a ScarfOfAsskicking and, in a fight with Erio, kicks in a very similar way to a Rider Kick.
36* Vita's hammer can take on a form that is a reference to ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'' and another which references ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' with a drill on the front. ''TTGL'' aired in the same season as ''[=StrikerS=]'' and the hammer is voiced by the same Japanese VA as Simon. Appropriately, that season showed Vita to be a {{Determinator}} like everyone's favorite HotBlooded ''Gurren Lagann'' protagonists.
37** Ginga's "Revolver Gimlet" attack also shouts out to both series, resembling the use of drills from ''Gurren Lagann'' and named for a villain from ''[=GaoGaiGar=]''.
38* Sankt Kaiser Olivie from ''[=ViVid=]'', a female legendary hero "king", look a lot like [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Saber]].
39* Both Einhart in ''[=ViVid=]'' and Lily in ''Force'' wear outfits similar to Saber's casual clothes.
40* Lutecia looks suspiciously like a loli [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Rider]].
41* Agito was obviously inspired by [[VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Etna]].
42* Look at this guy from the new ''Force'' manga. Now, go play ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' and take a look at Squall Leonhart. No, you aren't hallucinating, they really are a scar and a bottle of hair dye away from having basically the ''exact same character design''. The similarities become even more pronounced when you realize that he uses a gunblade.
43* The Numbers's outfits suspiciously resemble plugsuits from ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', right down to the wristcuffs, shoulder armor things, and hair ornaments.
44** The Council is also a big and very blatant ShoutOut to Evangelion: the three big screens with "Sound Only" and [[spoiler:the fact that the council is composed of three [[BrainUploading Artificial Intelligences]] that are basically three big brains in glass tubes]].
45* In the first scene of Caro's appearance, she's wearing a hooded cloak that looks suspiciously like one worn in the first appearance of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX a certain other summoner/white mage staff chick.]] Which was, itself, a MythologyGag in reference to the original White Mage class from the NES ''[[Franchise/FinalFantasy Final Fantasies]]''.
46* Nanoha's Starlight Breaker is taken from Lightning Breaker. Viewers of ''Anime/TheSoulTaker'' should also find the glove device Jail used to fight [[SuperMode Sonic Drive]] Fate familiar.
47* [[http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/245/245390/img.html One of Material-L's palettes]] gives her greenish-blue in place of her standard sky blue, which may remind one of [[Music/{{Vocaloid}} Hatsune Miku]].
48* Sein's IS ability is called Deep Diver - it allows her to swim through solid objects. This bears a striking resemblance to the ability shown by Ms. Deep from ''Anime/ReadOrDie''.
49* Cinque wears a BadassLongcoat and has the ability to charge throwing weapons with explosive energy, similar to ComicBook/{{Gambit}}.
50** Her eyepatch, combined with her trenchcoat (which actually gave her stealth ability) makes some fans compared her with [[VideoGame/MetalGear Big Boss]].
51* Much like in ''Anime/{{Macross}}'', TheMovie of the first season actually is an in-universe movie produced on Midchilda.
52* In A's, Hayate Yagami has many similarities in appearance to Lain from ''Anime/SerialExperimentsLain'' most obviously in the form of her hair ornament, but with other, subtler examples.
53** It's somewhat ironic that Signum shares a [[Creator/KaoriShimizu voice actor]] with Lain.
54* Vivio's friend Rio in the ''[=ViVid=]'' manga has a pair of spells called Enryu and Rairyu that conjure up twin dragons of lightning and fire. The spells are obviously named after [=EnRyu=] and [=RaiRyu=] of ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'' fame, and when both dragons are used together the resulting attack looks virtually identical to [=GekiRyuJin=]'s Xiang Tou Long attack.
55** Her other friend, Corona, summons a giant golem which has [[Anime/MazingerZ Kouji Kabuto's mech's]] [[RocketPunch signature attack.]]
56* Some of Fate's abilities/attacks have very familiar-sounding names. [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Riot Blade]]? [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic Drive]]?
57* In ''[=StrikerS=]'', certain characters are given "limits" on their power that, with approval, they can release in order to power up. For most of the series, doing so is merely referred to as "releasing your limit", but in one episode, Nanoha specifically talks to Hayate about using her [[Franchise/FinalFantasy Limit Break]], with "Limit Break" said in GratuitousEnglish more than once.
58* The OrphanedPunchline Vita uses in A's is a ''Theatre/{{Lysistrata}}'' reference, of all things.
59* Nanoha being a MamaBear to Vivio? Almost like in ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' between Ripley and Newt, right?
60* One of Otto's attacks is called Ray Storm. Does it sound familiar to the Creator/{{Taito}} ShootEmUp ''[[VideoGame/RaySeries RayStorm]]''?
61* Vice Granscenic is a FriendlySniper whose [[MyGreatestFailure greatest failure]] was [[spoiler: accidentally shooting his little sister with his rifle]] and as a result, he couldn't shoot a gun anymore. [[spoiler: He gets his touch back for the final battle, however.]] This Troper can't help but compare this character to Al Powell from ''Franchise/DieHard'' who accidentally shot a kid with a plastic gun but eventually got his skills back when he kills TheDragon in the first film.
62* In ''[=ViVid=]'', there are two competitors named Harry Tribeca and Vitoria Dahlgrün. Harry is a delinquent who uses [[PlayingWithFire fire techniques]] with her signiture attack named "Gun Flame." Victoria, on the other hand, is a refined lady who uses [[ShockAndAwe electric attacks]]. Both consider each other as rivals. Kinda reminds one of [[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Sol and Ky]] doesn't it?
63* The series also packs a reference to the ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'' of all things with the the {{Precursor}} civilization being named after the author of the Necronomicon.
64* Nanoha is a genki girl wearing bright colors, has a high pitch voice and who powers origins are routed in mecha, Stern is a stoic lookalike in dark colors with a low, monotone voice, One could say they are almost twins, both are voiced by Yukari Tamura. Which two lookalike siblings voiced by Yukari Tamura come to mind [[Characters/GaoGaiGarFINAL]]

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